The importance of networking within the creative industries. - -B00389861
The importance of networking within the creative industries.
by Nyssa Catherine Wootton
Why is it important
We network with people every day. We network with our families, friends, colleagues at work, or maybe with an employer. All these networks become connections. And connections can grow stronger with effort and time.
The talks I attended online. Employees always say they got their jobs in the industry because they connected with the employer. And it grew just as strong when they got to know the team.
Today I will talk about How you should network with your potential employer.
What online platforms should we use to contact employers?
When contacting employers, knowing where you can connect with them is essential. The most highly recommended platform for professionals and employees use LinkedIn, and Linkedin is the best place to get to know professionals and form meaningful connections.
I’d recommend starting a profile now. And make sure that you find connections and build those early over time. As I have said, relationships can bring in new contacts, which could lead to a potential employer.
Promoting yourself in a professional manner
In game development, promoting yourself and your work is one of the keys to getting your foot in the door to employment. It can differ from what role you want to go in. but what game developers do is build a portfolio of the work they have produced over the years. It shows possible employers how far you have come and the potential impact you will have in this role.
-For programmers, they must show something completely different. I’d recommend including test logs, documentation, pseudocode, and flowcharts to show your process as a programmer. I’d also recommend Including early videos of the working mechanics and functions in the game you made.
-for artists, there is a professional platform called art station that also has a portfolio-building feature so you can showcase your work. There is also a feature where you can build a website to feature yourself as a professional.
As for musicians, I recommend editing a demo reel video that showcases past tracks you worked on in the past. It doesn’t have to be the whole track—just a snippet to give the employer an idea of what you make.
It is also a good idea to build a resume that stands out. And I have been told in the past that it is okay to make it more than one page as everything is becoming more digital and easy to see.
Networking at events online or in person
Now we get to the critical topic, in-person events or online events. It could depend on your situation as an individual, so I will give you my views on how both work and how they would be effective.
Networking at in-person events
I feel in-person events help employers connect with potential clients more deeply. You can get to know the employer personally and show yourself as a person. It gives the client a chance to ask questions they may not get to ask online. And right there and then, the employer can provide them with advice. It also allows you to exchange contacts with them and form an online connection.
Networking online
Online networking is very different from in-person networking, and it also depends on your situation as an individual. If you are on the other side of the world, it may become complicated for you to create that connection, as the client would have to reach out to the employer for questions and advice. Sometimes you can get a response or are met with no result.
However, I do see the advantage of showing your work online. If you have a LinkedIn profile and have a link to an art station, for example, it makes it easier for the employer to navigate to where your work or resume is.
In conclusion, however, I do see both advantages and disadvantages. But both can work their way.
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